Early 2019 Fantasy Baseball Rankings (Top 250)

With the MLB playoffs underway, it is officially time to begin looking at the 2019 fantasy baseball season. In the coming weeks, I’ll be rolling out my dynasty rankings and early bold predictions, but we’ve got to first begin with the top 250 rankings. Much is subject to change as players change rosters and we get more information on injuries, but as of now, this is how I would draft my teams and it should give you a pretty reliable glimpse on how fantasy drafts may shape up five months from now. I’ll take it 50 players at a time and highlight one ranking that I’m particularly passionate about from each group.

Top 50

1

Mike Trout

LAA

OF

2

Mookie Betts

BOS

OF

3

Jose Ramirez

CLE

3B

4

Francisco Lindor

CLE

SS

5

Nolan Arenado

COL

3B

6

Christian Yelich

MIL

OF

7

J.D. Martinez

BOS

OF

8

Manny Machado

FA

SS

9

Jose Altuve

HOU

2B

10

Chris Sale

BOS

SP

11

Max Scherzer

WSH

SP

12

Corey Kluber

CLE

SP

13

Aaron Judge

NYY

OF

14

Bryce Harper

FA

OF

15

Trea Turner

WSH

SS

16

Alex Bregman

HOU

3B/SS

17

Paul Goldschmidt

ARI

1B

18

Andrew Benintendi

BOS

OF

19

Ronald Acuna Jr.

ATL

OF

20

Freddie Freeman

ATL

1B

21

Javier Baez

CHC

2B/SS/3B

22

Giancarlo Stanton

NYY

OF

23

Carlos Correa

HOU

SS

24

Clayton Kershaw

LAD

SP

25

Trevor Story

COL

SS

26

Aaron Nola

PHI

SP

27

Charlie Blackmon

COL

OF

28

Jacob deGrom

NYM

SP

29

Kris Bryant

CHC

3B/OF

30

Noah Syndergaard

NYM

SP

31

Juan Soto

WSH

OF

32

Ozzie Albies

ATL

2B

33

Blake Snell

TB

SP

34

Trevor Bauer

CLE

SP

35

Anthony Rendon

WSH

3B

36

Rhys Hoskins

PHI

OF

37

Gerrit Cole

HOU

SP

38

Justin Verlander

HOU

SP

39

Cody Bellinger

LAD

1B/OF

40

Eugenio Suarez

CIN

3B

41

George Springer

HOU

OF

42

Anthony Rizzo

CHC

1B

43

Matt Carpenter

STL

1B/3B

44

Corey Seager

LAD

SS

45

Starling Marte

PIT

OF

46

Khris Davis

OAK

DH

47

Whit Merrifield

KC

2B/OF

48

Gleyber Torres

NYY

2B/SS

49

Eddie Rosario

MIN

OF

50

Xander Bogaerts

BOS

SS

Cody Bellinger (1B/OF – LAD)You may have been burned by Bellinger this year, but that doesn’t mean you should say never again on a 23-year-old power-phenom. Here is the list of players with 60+ homers in their first two years under 24 years old: Albert Pujols, Eddie Matthews, Ryan Braun, Frank Robinson, Kris Bryant, Mark Teixeira, Evan Longoria and Bellinger. That’s it. Giancarlo Stanton and Barry Bonds didn’t do it and neither did Miguel Cabrera or Ted Williams. The list is exclusive to superstars and Bellinger belongs to it. Oh, by the way, he’s got 24 stolen bases already too which only Braun can stake claim to from the list above. He is a special player and despite the lackluster 2018 results, I’m still buying a ticket. he gave us reason to hope in the second half too. From August 1st until the end of the year, Bellinger batted .312/.388/.509 with a prorated pace of 24 homers and 27 stolen bases. That will do.

51 to 100

51

Luis Severino

NYY

SP

52

Walker Buehler

LAD

SP

53

J.T. Realmuto

MIA

C

54

Joey Votto

CIN

1B

55

Justin Upton

LAA

OF

56

Jose Abreu

CWS

1B

57

Jack Flaherty

STL

SP

58

A.J. Pollock

FA

OF

59

James Paxton

SEA

SP

60

Jean Segura

SEA

SS

61

Lorenzo Cain

MIL

OF

62

Stephen Strasburg

WSH

SP

63

Carlos Carrasco

CLE

SP

64

Tommy Pham

TB

OF

65

Mitch Haniger

SEA

OF

66

Gary Sanchez

NYY

C

67

Madison Bumgarner

SF

SP

68

Adalberto Mondesi

KC

SS

69

Wil Myers

SD

OF/3B

70

Daniel Murphy

FA

2B

71

Nelson Cruz

FA

DH

72

Marcell Ozuna

STL

OF

73

Zack Greinke

ARI

SP

74

Justin Turner

LAD

3B

75

Mike Foltynewicz

ATL

SP

76

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

TOR

3B

77

Nicholas Castellanos

DET

OF

78

Willson Contreras

CHC

C

79

Shohei Ohtani

LAA

DH/SP

80

Kenley Jansen

LAD

RP

81

Ender Inciarte

ATL

OF

82

Jose Berrios

MIN

SP

83

Edwin Diaz

SEA

RP

84

Patrick Corbin

FA

SP

85

Yoan Moncada

CWS

2B

86

Aroldis Chapman

NYY

RP

87

Rougned Odor

TEX

2B

88

Jonathan Villar

BAL

2B

89

Aaron Hicks

NYY

OF

90

Craig Kimbrel

FA

RP

91

Carlos Martinez

STL

SP

92

Jesus Aguilar

MIL

1B

93

Miguel Sano

MIN

3B

94

Edwin Encarnacion

CLE

1B

95

Nomar Mazara

TEX

OF

96

Matt Chapman

OAK

3B

97

Roberto Osuna

HOU

RP

98

Blake Treinen

OAK

RP

99

Dee Gordon

SEA

2B/OF

100

David Price

BOS

SP

Jonathan Villar (2B – BAL)I never thought I’d be recommending this name again, yet here we are. Just two seasons prior, Villar was a fantasy superstar, swiping 62 bags and swatting 19 homers while qualifying at both 2B and SS. In 2017 and for the start of 2018, he took a big dip, but once he was dealt to the Orioles, Villar took off again. In just 54 starts (exactly one-third of the season), he hit 8 homers and stole 21 basses. That 24/63 pace looks awfully familiar. Sign me up for a lottery ticket in 2018 when Villar could return second round value out of a ninth-round draft slot.

101 to 150

101

Tim Anderson

CWS

SS

102

Brian Dozier

FA

2B

103

Felipe Vazquez

PIT

RP

104

Didi Gregorius

NYY

SS

105

Gregory Polanco

PIT

OF

106

Joey Gallo

TEX

OF/1B

107

Eric Hosmer

SD

1B

108

Scooter Gennett

CIN

2B

109

Max Muncy

LAD

1B/3B

110

Rafael Devers

BOS

3B

111

David Dahl

COL

OF

112

Matt Olson

OAK

1B

113

Elvis Andrus

TEX

SS

114

Michael Conforto

NYM

OF

115

Jameson Taillon

PIT

SP

116

David Peralta

ARI

OF

117

Josh Hader

MIL

RP

118

Robinson Cano

SEA

2B

119

Michael Brantley

FA

OF

120

Robbie Ray

ARI

SP

121

Jonathan Schoop

MIL

2B

122

Sean Doolittle

WSH

RP

123

Jose Peraza

CIN

SS

124

Kyle Schwarber

CHC

OF

125

Brad Hand

CLE

RP

126

Raisel Iglesias

CIN

RP

127

Eloy Jimenez

CHW

OF

128

Yasiel Puig

LAD

OF

129

Andrew McCutchen

FA

OF

130

Yoenis Cespedes

NYM

OF

131

Lance McCullers Jr.

HOU

SP

132

Josh Donaldson

FA

3B

133

Jon Lester

CHC

SP

134

Sean Newcomb

ATL

SP

135

Zack Wheeler

NYM

SP

136

Harrison Bader

STL

OF

137

Luis Castillo

CIN

SP

138

Chris Archer

PIT

SP

139

Masahiro Tanaka

NYY

SP

140

Nick Pivetta

PHI

SP

141

Victor Robles

WSH

OF

142

Odubel Herrera

PHI

OF

143

DJ LeMahieu

FA

2B

144

Buster Posey

SF

C

145

Cesar Hernandez

PHI

2B

146

Miguel Andujar

NYY

3B

147

Ken Giles

TOR

RP

148

Wilson Ramos

FA

C

149

Kyle Hendricks

CHC

SP

150

Byron Buxton

MIN

OF

David Dahl (OF – COL)It sure did take long enough, but it appears that Dahl has finally arrived. After years of hype followed by injuries and let-down, the Rockies’ potential star has implanted himself firmly into the heart of Colorado’s lineup. The young slugger was phenomenal in September, batting .287/.330/.985 with 9 homers and 27 RBIs. While he may not exactly be Nolan Arendo with that RBI pace, the batting average could actually rise over .300 as he continues to mature as a hitter. Dahl won’t steal 20 bags, but his 32/10 prorated pace will certainly please fantasy owners if he can keep it up, and frankly, there is room for much more if the September breakout was, in fact, legitimate.

151 to 200

151

Corey Knebel

MIL

RP

152

Yu Darvish

CHC

SP

153

Nick Senzel

CIN

3B

154

Cole Hamels

CHC

SP

155

Miguel Cabrera

DET

1B

156

Dallas Keuchel

FA

SP

157

Jeurys Familia

FA

RP

158

Adam Jones

FA

OF

159

Mike Clevinger

CLE

SP

160

Tyler Glasnow

TB

SP

161

Brandon Morrow

CHC

RP

162

Billy Hamilton

CIN

OF

163

Tyler White

HOU

1B

164

Stephen Piscotty

OAK

OF

165

Eduardo Rodriguez

BOS

SP

166

Salvador Perez

KC

C

167

Seranthony Dominguez

PHI

RP

168

Mike Moustakas

MIL

3B

169

German Marquez

COL

SP

170

Jordan Hicks

STL

RP

171

Evan Longoria

SF

3B

172

Ian Happ

CHC

OF/3B

173

Ian Desmond

COL

1B/OF

174

Carlos Santana

PHI

1B

175

Jose Martinez

STL

1B/OF

176

Amed Rosario

NYM

SS

177

Charlie Morton

FA

SP

178

Yasmani Grandal

FA

C

179

Andrelton Simmons

LAA

SS

180

Willy Adames

TB

SS

181

Yadier Molina

STL

C

182

Kirby Yates

SD

RP

183

Paul DeJong

STL

SS

184

Miles Mikolas

STL

SP

185

Cody Allen

FA

RP

186

Jurickson Profar

TEX

SS/3B/1B

187

Travis Shaw

MIL

3B/2B

188

Mallex Smith

TB

OF

189

Brett Gardner

NYY

OF

190

Francisco Mejia

SD

C

191

Matt Kemp

LAD

OF

192

Scott Kingery

PHI

SS

193

A.J. Minter

ATL

RP

194

Shin-Soo Choo

TEX

OF

195

Kevin Gausman

ATL

SP

196

Zach Britton

FA

RP

197

Trey Mancini

BAL

OF/1B

198

Brandon Nimmo

NYM

OF

199

Jake Lamb

ARI

3B

200

Alex Reyes

STL

SP

Tyler Glasnow (SP – TB)This is a dangerous name to be recommending, but then again, so were Blake Snell and Trevor Bauer this year, but I did that anyway because of the potential they so clearly had. The worst case scenario is that you find out quickly that Glasnow isn’t an ace and you cut ties before he ruins your season. What that is a possibility, it seems more likely that he has finally turned the corner and may join Snell atop that Rays’ rotation for a long time. After posting the best numbers in minor league baseball during the 2017 season, Glasnow struggled in the majors until being dealt to Tampa where he finished out the season with 3 or fewer runs allowed in 9 of 11 starts. In that time, Glasnow cut down on the walks while striking out well over a batter per inning. He wrapped up his season with 9 Ks over 5 innings, finishing with 10.3 K/9 on the season. There is a legitimate chance he carries that momentum over in 2019 and catches the AL East by storm.

201 to 250

201

Hunter Renfroe

SD

OF

202

Josh Bell

PIT

1B

203

Franmil Reyes

SD

OF

204

Max Kepler

MIN

OF

205

Kyle Tucker

HOU

OF

206

Adam Eaton

WSH

OF

207

Starlin Castro

MIA

2B

208

Kyle Gibson

MIN

SP

209

Keone Kela

PIT

RP

210

Dellin Betances

NYY

RP

211

Corey Dickerson

PIT

OF

212

Mike Zunino

SEA

C

213

Evan Gattis

FA

DH

214

Ketel Marte

ARI

2B/SS

215

Brad Boxberger

ARI

RP

216

Rich Hill

LAD

SP

217

Justin Smoak

TOR

1B

218

Tyler Skaggs

LAA

SP

219

Marcus Semien

OAK

SS

220

Dakota Hudson

STL

SP

221

Zack Godley

ARI

SP

222

Archie Bradley

ARI

RP

223

David Robertson

FA

RP

224

Fernando Tatis Jr.

SD

SS

225

Hyun-Jin Ryu

LAD

SP

226

Chad Green

NYY

RP

227

Rick Porcello

BOS

SP

228

Brandon Belt

SF

1B

229

Wade Davis

COL

RP

230

Maikel Franco

PHI

3B

231

Manuel Margot

SD

OF

232

Jorge Alfaro

PHI

C

233

Jose Leclerc

TEX

RP

234

Danny Jansen

TOR

C

235

Yonder Alonso

CLE

1B

236

Kyle Freeland

COL

SP

237

Luis Urias

SD

2B

238

Brendan Rodgers

COL

2B/SS

239

Kyle Seager

SEA

3B

240

Ryan Zimmerman

WSH

1B

241

Carlos Rodon

CWS

SP

242

Jose Quintana

CHC

SP

243

Austin Meadows

TB

OF

244

Greg Bird

NYY

1B

245

Carl Edwards Jr.

CHC

RP

246

Jorge Polanco

MIN

SS

247

Jed Lowrie

FA

2B

248

Shane Bieber

CLE

SP

249

Ben Zobrist

CHC

OF/2B

250

Luke Voit

NYY

1B

Franmil Reyes (OF – SDP)If you take a look at the exit velocity leaderboard, you’ll see Reyes sandwiched between superstars like Christian Yelich, Mookie Betts and Kris Davis. His launch angle needs some work, but after being called back up to the majors on August 5th, Reyes obliterated MLB pitching, batting .318/.385/.933 with 10 homers in 157 at-bats. That was by no means a fluke either, as it came following a .324/.428/.614 line in Triple-A. The 6’5″275-pound masher is still just 22 years old and will likely only improve over the off-season. You better believe I’ll be getting plenty of shares with hopes that he is a major breakout in 2019.

Bobby Sylvester is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Bobby, check out hisarchiveand follow him@BobbyFantasyPro.